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21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(A) 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion.(B) 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”[a] and he was called the friend of God.(C) 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers[b] and sent them out by another road?(D) 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.23 Or justice
  2. 2.25 Other ancient authorities read spies

21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[a] He was even called the friend of God.[b] 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[c] so also faith is dead without good works.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:23a Gen 15:6.
  2. 2:23b See Isa 41:8.
  3. 2:26 Or without spirit.